5 Frustrating iPhone 6 Problems

After using the iPhone 6 for well over a month, there’s nothing that I hate about the phone. Hate is such a strong word after all. There are, however, some frustrating iPhone 6 annoyances, things I dislike about the iPhone 6, things I hope Apple fixes with the iPhone 6s or the iPhone 7. Ahead of a full review, here’s what’s been annoying me about Apple’s new iPhone.

First, a little setup. Two years ago, I stayed up until midnight to order the iPhone 5. The iPhone 5 was, after all, the iPhone I had been waiting for, the reason I had held onto my iPhone 3GS for as long as I did. It had a new metal design, 4G LTE, and a larger display for movies and games and browsing the web. Things I do rather frequently on my phone.

Apple does such a good job with the iPhone that you don’t have to upgrade every year or every two years. If I wanted to, I could have held onto my iPhone 5 as my daily driver. I decided not to though. The allure of the iPhone 6 and its Touch ID and its new camera and its larger display and Apple Pay and its new processor.

So, I stayed up again and pre-ordered a gray 64GB iPhone 6 from AT&T. Gray looked the best and there was simply no way I was buying the 16GB or 128GB versions of the iPhone 6. 16GB is too little, 128GB is too much. Just over a month ago, I replaced the iPhone 5 with the iPhone 6 and I haven’t looked back. The iPhone 6, simply, is one of the best smartphones I’ve ever used. It’s not a perfect phone though.

There’s a lot to like about the iPhone 6 and there are also a few things that I absolutely dislike. Things that aren’t enough to get me to sell it but are enough to complain about. And hopefully, if I complain loud enough, some Apple engineer in Cupertino will hear me and fix these issues on the iPhone 6s or iPhone 7. You never know.

This isn’t really about me though. It’s about you. Those of you who are thinking about buying the iPhone 6. My goal is to get you as prepared as possible and today, I want to fill you in on a few of the things that you should be aware of before switching to Apple’s 4.7-inch iPhone 6. These are the five things that annoy me most about Apple’s iPhone.

iOS 8 Bugs

In June, Apple released iOS 8 into the beta program. So, you would think that the company would have ironed out some of the major issues ahead of the iPhone 6’s arrival. Not the case.

While iOS 8 problems aren’t as bad as last year’s iOS 7 problems, there are still a bunch of annoying bugs and they are primarily attached to Apple’s brand new iPhones. I’ve used an assortment of iPhones and iPads running iOS 8 and iOS 8.1 and let me tell you, the iPhone 6 is, by far, the most buggy device of the bunch. I literally stumble into a new issue every day.

This week its reoccurring landscape issues where the device, for whatever reason, gets stuck in landscape mode. This doesn’t happen on the iPad, heck, it doesn’t happen on the iPhone 5. iOS 8.1 was supposed to fix this issue but it didn’t. I still get stuck in landscape mode ten to fifteen times a day. It’s annoying and takes away from the experience.

I’ve also seen my keyboard disappear a few times. The iPhone 6’s Wi-Fi has also been acting up in recent days. It was fine inside iOS 8.0.2 and iOS 8.0 so I don’t know what changed. And don’t get me started on iMessage. Group threading is busted and I continually get iMessages hours or even days later. It’s frustrating to have this stuff go on every single day.

That said, software is never perfect. There’s always something wrong. But the problem I have is that these are core elements, Wi-Fi, messaging, and shifting the phone from portrait to landscape. I use this stuff every day. Apple’s already rolled out three iOS 8 updates, two of which didn’t completely break the iPhone 6, so I’m hopeful that the experience improves and doesn’t deteriorate.

This is something to keep in mind before switching to the iPhone 6. The software is mostly solid but there are some bugs that hold back the experience.

Slippery Design

One of the reasons I bought the iPhone 5 was its design. The sleek black aluminum and thin form factor were huge draws. The size and materials made it extremely easy to grip when placing a phone call. The iPhone 6’s design ditches the glass at the top and bottom and replaces it with an all metal design. The iPhone 6 is also extremely thin, sub 7mm to be exact. I like the look of the iPhone 6 but trying to make a phone call has me walking on pins and needles.

I thought it was just me but I’ve talked to several iPhone 6 users, my girlfriend included, who are having a tough time keeping a firm grip when placing a call with the iPhone 6. It feels like it’s going to slip out of my hands every single time I raise it up to my ear to talk. In fact, it has slipped out of my hands numerous times. Am I a little bit clumsy? Yes but I never dropped my iPhone 5 like this. And I never worried about my grip.

I don’t use a case on my iPhone 6 but given that I tend to use my iPhone 6 outside when walking on concrete, I probably should. I’m just one fall away from disaster.

One Handed Use

I was using the iPhone 6 in bed the other night before going to bed and I was holding the phone above my head. Not five minutes later, it fell out of my hands and hit me right in the mouth giving me a fat lip. It’s a sad, pathetic story but it’s one that’s happened to me several times. One because of the slippery back and two because it’s not an easy phone to hold with one hand for extended amounts of times.

I have massive hands, too big for my body. And it’s hard for me to consistently use the iPhone 6 with one hand when I’m at any kind of an angle. Straight on, right in front of me, when held straight from the bottom is fine. If I even try and hold it in landscape or hold it from the side for any extended length, my hand gets tired and it feels uncomfortable and I drop it on my face.

Now, before you get on me, realize that my other phone is the Nexus 5. The Nexus 5, a 5-inch smartphone, is actually smaller than the 4.7-inch iPhone 6. I’ve said this many times but screen sizes don’t equal the size of the phone. The iPhone 6 is a big phone, bigger than a lot of other phones out there, and that’s something you need to keep in mind before buying it.

I have a feeling that my hands and habits will adjust over time to accommodate the larger screen, which I like by the way, but these first couple of weeks have been pretty annoying. And painful.

Pocketability

If you wear shorts that don’t have deep pockets, prepare for the iPhone 6 to jut out. I was wearing some standard Vans shorts the other day and someone walking behind me told me that my iPhone was about to fall out of my back pocket. One, I don’t like to get pickpocketed and two, I don’t trust my iPhone falling and landing without any repercussions. More on that in a second.

I also have shorts that have rather deep pockets. The iPhone 6, the thin and light iPhone 6, likes to shift around in there. It’s gotten to the point where the phone more often than not is sitting sideways in my pocket. Honestly, I wish the iPhone 6 was a little heavier and perhaps a little shorter. This is a tall, light smartphone and that seems to be posing some problems for me right now.

Keep my experience in mind if you’re thinking about buying the iPhone 6 and your closest is full of skinny jeans or lightweight shorts with deep pockets.

Last night, I was holding my iPhone 6 in my hand over a desk in my office. The desk has a glass top. I lost my grip on the iPhone 6 and the phone hit the glass top, on its side, and fell to the floor. I dropped my black iPhone 5 all the time and the scratches and dings were nearly impossible to see. The ding on the side of my iPhone 6 is very easy to see. I now see it every time I pick up my phone.

I dropped the phone from four inches above a glass surface. I can’t even imagine what would happen to it dropped out of my loose pocket or fell from my hand while talking to a friend.

Well, I guess I kind of do know. A few weeks back, a friend dropped my girlfriend’s iPhone 6 from about chest height down onto a wood floor. The front of the iPhone 6 cracked and shattered. Apple replaced it but it was still a very annoying process.

I really like Apple’s metal designs. They’re nice to look at and most of the time, nice to hold. However, I’d love to see some improvements in the durability department. I don’t need a tank but I do need a phone that I’m not worried about every time I take it outside or every time I hold it up to my face to call my mom.

I prefer the flat sides of the iPhone 5 to the rounded 6. I think this is one of the reasons the phone is not as easy to hold. I’m fine with how thin the phone is, but think the rounded metal and if your hands get wet make for dropping the phone. I too am seeing issues, most of which I think have to do with app versus the OS. As they have been getting updates and some problems have stopped. I haven’t figured out which one causes the reboot to a black screen! No Wi-Fi problems, iMessage is working. I got the Silver model as I prefer Black, but as you stated it showed every little nick. I got Ghost Armor installed on my 6+ and they have a full wrap up the sides. It changes the feel just enough to solve the slippery issues, but isn’t tacky. I also got a SenaCase which is big, but holds the phone nicely on my belt without putting the phone in an enclosure.

Dude why the hell 862 apps?? Do you really use ALL of them??? I mean seriously do you?? That’s your issue is that!!! It only takes on buggy app to corrupt an iPhone ive got the 6 plus 128 gb and I only have 89 and I delete ones I don’t use or replace them dude are you setting a record on apps?? LMAO LOL

I couldn’t find anything frustrating in iPhone 6 till now. I think the facts you have written doesn’t make any sense. Handling an iPhone depends upon its users. Yeah, I believe that grip is not good but once we get habitual of it we know how to handle the device. Well, apart from all these problems the one feature that I like the most in iPhone 6 is that it support fast charging with some special chargers and here is the proven result for my statement: https://goo.gl/faiERh

Ok this guy is not the brightest. While some bugs do exist in IOS 8, the article reads as though he spoke with his girlfriend and a couple of his other friends. He speaks of the IPhone 6 in landscape however it’s the iPhone 6 plus that has landscape so I’m confused-did he jailbreak his 4.7 iphone 6? The comment about him getting a fat lip from his phone hitting him in the mouth while laying on his bed?? Do I have to say anything about that??? Just sounds like a very well written freshman in high school report…on that I would say good job and one day maybe just maybe you can do a real review…

I frequently experience the same bugs as the author, and also have dropped the phone on my face.

The article had a mission (read the headline) and it accomplished that mission. Not sure why people are giving him shit. This isn’t an iPhone 6 review, just an article pointing out day-to-day use problems. Spot on.

This is a bit of a stupid article…first of all, I’d like to point out that I have the exact same model iPhone 6. I haven’t had experience with any of these issues. You mention bugs in iOS 8. Firstly, I have seen small bugs, but nothing like you described. Are you sure you’re running to most up to date software (8.0.2)? I don’t think so. Besides, all OS’s have bugs, and iOS 8 is brand new, so give Apple a break. If you think the new iPhone is harder to hold, then that’s your own problem. You knew the design of the phone before you bought it. You could have held it in a store if you wanted to. Don’t blame Apple just because you’re not used to their new design. Don’t like it? Don’t buy it. As for the phone’s build, it’s exactly the same quality as the iPhone 5S and iPhone 5. It’s not any easier to scratch, and it’s still your own fault for not using a case. You can’t blame Apple for things that are entirely your own fault, like dropping the phone. You can’t fit it in your pocket? Shouldn’t have bought a bigger phone then. All these “problems” you’re having with the iPhone 6 are just the result of poor research before buying. I suggest you actually try the phone before you buy it next time.

While these are interesting comments about the iphone 6, I can’t say I agree with most of them. I don’t have any of these bugs on my iPhone 6 running iOS 8.1. If I was this guy, I’d take it to the Apple Store for replacement.

I’m getting my replacement today, lucky new in box!! Than sell it on eBay than get my galaxy note 4 or Sony Xperia z3?? Good riddance apple!! All the $$$ apple makes and can’t get right?? Ya android has its issues to but android you can do more!!

I have used BB Bold, Samsung S3, HTC M8 and now shifted to iphone 6 plus. The worst phone of all the above is iphone 6. Very unfriendly, they are far behind Samsung in terms of being user friendly. Many features are missing in iphone 6 and I am very unhappy with iphone 6 for making life difficult. I can’t delete emails in bulk, I can’t send images or copy messages in whatsapp directly from one sender to the other and above all the best part is my new iphone 6 plus crashes every now and then. Not at all happy. I strongly recommend android users not to shift to iphone 6 most unfriendly mobile I have ever seen. Samsung galaxy doing a great job and we are eagerly waiting for a high end model from Samsung with a new name and new look very soon. 👍👍👍

I don’t like the new iPhone 6. I should have stayed with the 5s. But too late now. What I hate the most about this phone is the placement of the power button. It used to be a lot better when it was on the top side of the phone. Now its on the side and anytime I go to lock my phone, the volume keys interfere. Why did they make this unnecessary change? Your article was okay, but you do repeat yourself a bit too much.

The best thing I did was to purchase one of Apple’s own leather cases. It feels like no other case (to hold) and it is so much nicer to hold, without slipping, than the smooth metal of the iPhone itself. Expensive, yes, but then, so is the iPhone.

I find the iPhone 6 fairly trouble-free. Facebook crashes a lot, and I still don’t understand why elements of the display had to be de-coloured (whited-out) and slimmed down to nothing – why is that Shift key still not highlighted in blue when it’s active… why is it now so hard to reject a call that’s ringing, why does the mail app have a few text ‘buttons’ that aren’t buttons dotted around, what was wrong with having buttons anyway… but these things will eventually be brought back to the refined, polished level of iOS6 :)

I would have to agree with this article. I, too, had the iPhone 5s and it was the perfect phone size. The 6, and 6 plus, are bigger, yet they do show dings and are slick to hold.

Honestly, I do not think these devices would have met the design demands of Steve Jobs. He was fanatical about the design for one hand. Also, I would say that iOS 8 (or Yosemite) would not have been released, either. This is one of the worst deployments I have experienced. It is full of flaws and it makes old devices useless.

So many issues with my iPhone 6😞 Mine takes hours to charge (5-6) and then drains in less then five hours with barley any use. I have turned off everything from notifications to wifi and much more . I only have like 10 apps on it. I have gotten that blue screen and my phone turned off and rebooted on its own. I also see a glitch when I tap the home button twice and get into the multi tasking window every time I swipe up an app to close it the screen will turn blue for half a second. So depressed with Apple. This product should be flawless considering the price and the time Apple has put into it.

I thought it was just me having issues with a slippery phone! It’s a real nightmare sometimes, I love iPhones and can’t ever see myself giving them up, I’ve had pretty much every model! The slipping is my biggest issue, I can’t type a message with both thumbs unless I hold my phone flat which is annoying… The only other issue I do have is with Facebook! It’ll just shut the page down when it feels like it which is pretty often!

My biggest problem with the iPhone 6 is that while I can hear the people I’m talking to half of the time they can’t hear me. I have wiped my phone clean and reset it up, gotten a new SIM card and gotten a nre iPhone 6. I’m still having the same problem. I’ve talked to two other people who are having the same problem. I don’t know what to do. What a waste of money. Is anyone else experiencing this problem ?

Have absolutely the same problem with my 6 Plus – have replaced the phone and made all the changes recommended (like turning off vioce on LTE with AT&T) but nothing works. Everyone I call complains they cant her me well and it is unbelievably irritating!! Wish there was a solution to this problem!

I kept my iph 4 and it still works perfectly. My iph 6 is a dud. People call, landline or cell, I answer and it disconnects. Not every number, 50% and it’s consistent to the numbers it disconnects. I can be home 72 hours straight and have to reset my network settings every 6-8 hours. If I leave home, I have to reboot my phone, I get to the office, I have to reboot my phone. I see clients in their homes. I drive all day. If my phone is silent for more than two hours, I have to restart and will find 5 missed calls, 3 voicemails, 14 texts. The simplest way to tell if my phone has to be rebooted is to click the weather. If the weather won’t update, it’s time. I hate my iphone 6. I have reset to factory settings 2 times. I rebooted my iph 4 a couple of times a year. I got booted off the apple forum for complaining about the problems with my iph 6 and asking for assistance. Any ideas?

I have a problem with being heard on my iPhone 6+. People tell me I sound garbled and they can’t understand me. When I’m talking with some one using an iPhone 6+ they almost always sound garbled and I can’t understand them. VERY ANNOYING !!! Anyone else having this problem?

I just swapped out a BlackBerry Classic for an iPhone 6 and I’m impressed at how much it just feels like a breath of fresh air compared to the Classic. Typing on the iPhone 6 requires more attention to the keyboard which is a bit of a bummer but the Classic rock was a close second. Yes it’s an Apple had and have the 5c and knew what I was getting myself into and to tell the truth it ain’t too bad at all. Overall I’d say the 6 is a 9.5 my BlackBerry a 9 and only because the old style Classic keyboard is a bit outdated and the screen resizes as you type. The only thing about the IPhone that bugs me is that the iPhone six has not cannot be updated with a real call blocker like the Classic can and typing on it is not as accurate as it should be. The iPhone has apps galore the BlackBerry has less It’s about a tie in some ways in others it’s not the quality of both are great as far as I can tell but the security of Blackberry is awesome, I have yet to see a virus infect a Blackberry. Any phone can crack a screen but had you put it in a case in the first place you would not have cracked your screen! Shame on you! I went straight to Walmart and bought a brand new case and so far so good. As I typed this post with my iPhone 6 I can see accuracy needs to be addressed looking at the Blackberry I can safely say that I’ll wait for an update to fix the typing issue. Don’t get me wrong my othe line has a Z30 and I won’t swap that out any time soon because it’s a typing monster that’s under what Blackberry is s all about communication is all about at the end of the day. The iPhone is really my mainstream entertainment phone my Blackberry is a business tool.

Anyone know how to move the done button? Wish I could move the words that pop up a little bit away from the letters and more apps need to allow for landscape mode such as Facebook other than that I love it. I think it’s the visual effects that catch my eyes the most.

All your complaints are mine as well. I have one more. Who thought it was a good idea to put the on/off button opposite the silent ring and volume controls. If you try to close the screen one handed with the button on the right, then you are likely to put your phone on silent and to lower the volume to super low. The screen off button used to be at the top and was extremely easy to use. In addition to the problem i just mentioned, to get it to shut off the phone torks a bit in your hand and you risk dropping it.

OK guys my beloved Z30 just refused to operate embedded media in Web pages and so I returned to my M8 and so far the latest update has sped the phone up but they still haven’t fixed the stock keyboard which covers the words as you get further down the page as you type text or email just gets blocked at the bottom of the pages and the Swift Keyboard is they only solution but still has typing issues. I spoke to Apple and they told mm that even the next update due out in September or later this year will not contain the ability to block calls the same way as other high end phones. And so I just wanted to let you guys know before you go out and buy a half baked iPhone. I imagine that tthe will have a real call blocker some time in the future in the meantime you may want to take a second look at the HTC line up before wasting your money on an iPhone 6. I will hang on to both my iPhones and wait and see if the good buddies at Apple will take their heads out their rectum and if not I’ll sell them both for cheap on eBay. It don’t matter to me my carrier is so cool they gave me the phones and said don’t worry about it. My drinks my battery up however I may give HTC another try and my next phone should be an M9 this month. AN IPhone without a real call blocker stinks like a dead rat!

I am so sad that I allowed my family to talk me into getting an iPhone 6S. So many annoying design flaws like the flashlight menu that I continue to accidentally swipe up when I’m scrolling through pages. And that stupid “silent” button that keeps flipping on if I put my phone down a little too rough on the table. The “memory” was gone within a week with a few photos and videos. The photo quality SUCKS in comparison to an Android… The “live photo shit thingy” is stupid as hell… The fact I can’t just pinch and zoom everything is driving me nuts! Everything that was easy with my Android takes two to three more steps with the IPhone. Eg: calling someone from the text screen. I miss being able to personalize my home screen. I despise SIRI. And every day I have to make sure my wifi button isn’t turned off so I don’t use my data! ANDROID PLEASE HELP ME! I WANT TO COME HOME! (but I’m stuck for two years:(….